A lecture for journalism and media students on the Australian contempt of court laws, privilege and freedom of speech. It covers contempt of court, the rights and responsibilities of the media in reporting on and about the legal system and explores absolute and qualified privilege

2. Contempt – balancing act
• The notion of the balancing of interests:
– The public interest in maintaining the
administration of justice.
– The interest of ensuring the right of an accused to
enjoy a fair trial.
VS
– The broader public interest in freedom of
expression and freedom of press.
Pearson pp: 98-99; 103-4; 111-12
http://www.studentatlaw.com/articles/125/3/Contempt-and-Open-Justice/Page3.htm
l

3. The fair administration of Justice
Therefore the public interests of
administration of justice and accused’s rights
are not absolute interests
Justice seen to be done
Importantly for the media this also
involves the right (or privilege) to
report on the justice system and
about the justice system in a way
that contributes to the fair
administration of justice.

4. •
•
•

5. Striking a Balance
•
•
•
•

6. A compact of reduced rights
•
•
•

7. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

8. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

9. •
•
•
•
•
Veteran broadcaster Derryn Hinch
expects he'll end up in jail if convicted
for contempt of court over the Jill
Meagher case.
Hinch says he has been issued with a
writ for contempt of court for
publishing details about Ms Meagher's
killer.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/hinch-on-contempt-charge-over-
meagher-case-20130625-2ov7m.html#ixzz2dnl1GiOy

10. •
•
•

11. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

13. •
•
•

14. •
•
•
•
•

15. •
•
•
•
•

16. •
•
•
•
•
•

17. •
•
•
•
•

18. •
•
•
•

19. •

20. Bread Manufacterers’ Decision
•

21. •
•
•
•
•
Contempt of court: a matter
of legal judgment
UK law on contempt applies
to any publication that
creates 'a substantial risk' of
prejudicing the course of
justice
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jan
/10/contempt-of-court

22. •
•
•
•

23. •
•
•
•
•
•

24. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

25. •
•
•
•
•
•

26. •
•
•
•
•

27. •
•
•
•
•
•

28. •
•
•
•
•
•

29. •
•
•
•
•

30. •
•
•
•
•
•

31. noun
• a special right,
advantage, or immunity
• granted or available
only to a particular
person or group
• something regarded as
a special honour
expression
• education is a right, not
a privilege [mass noun]
• he has been
accustomed all his life
to wealth and privilege
• I had the privilege of
giving the Sir George
Brown memorial lecture

32. absolute privilege
• especially in a
parliamentary context
• the right to say or write
something without the
risk of incurring
punishment or legal
action for defamation
• the right of a lawyer or
official to refuse to
divulge confidential
information
•
•

33. •
•
•
•
To qualify for this defense, a report
must be one of a public meeting/press
conference that is:
• Fair
• Accurate
• Published without malice
• Subject to the right of reply in the
form of a letter that gives
explanation or contradiction
• It need not be contemporaneous
(depending on publication), where
it has to be for absolute privilege